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Paula Milne’s new BBC Two Cold War thriller, Legacy, recruits stellar cast

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Casting has been announced for Paula Milne’s (The Politician’s Husband, Endgame) new BBC Two thriller, ‘Legacy’, set during the height of the Cold War in 1970s London.

The single, 90-minute film will star Charlie Cox (Stardust, Boardwalk Empire), Romola Garai (The Hour, The Crimson Petal And The White), Andrew Scott (Sherlock, The Town) and Simon Russell Beale (The Hollow Crown, My Week With Marilyn).

Based on the novel by Alan Judd and produced by Slim Film + Television. This gripping espionage thriller tells the compelling story of a young spy, Charles Thoroughgood (Cox), who discovers the disturbing truth about his father’s complex past.

Paula Milne says: “Legacy falls well within the genre of the British spy thriller but has an extraordinary personal twist. For what is espionage if not betrayal at the most fundamental level of human interactions? When that occurs within a family… It’s dynamite!”

Fresh out of the army, Charles has barely begun his training in Britain’s secret intelligence service, MI6, when his university association with a Soviet diplomat lands him on a case.

The diplomat, Viktor Koslov (Scott), has been working in London and his behaviour suggests he could be turned. Charles’s bosses hope to exploit Viktor for their own purposes. But when Charles makes contact, Viktor reveals certain information that he would rather not believe.

As he is drawn deeper and deeper into the machinations of international intelligence, Charles finds himself falling in love with someone very close to the dangerous world he inhabits – a forbidden love, which makes it all the more intoxicating…

Romola Garai plays Anna and Simon Russell Beale plays Hookey. Further casting includes: Olivia Grant (Strike Back, Lark Rise To Candleford) as Eva, Christian McKay (Rush, Tinker Taylor Solider Spy) as Hugo and Tessa Peake Jones (Marchlands) as Joyce.

Lucy Richer, BBC Executive Producer, comments: ”Charlie is going to make a fantastic Charles Thoroughgood and I’m delighted to have such a talented cast on board. Leading on from the recent success of drama on BBC Two, Paula’s script is guaranteed to make Legacy the most bold and ambitious drama imaginable.”

Simon Crawford Collins, Executive Producer for Slim Film + Television, adds: “Armed with Paula’s gripping screenplay and Pete’s crystal clear vision, we were confident that this project would attract an amazing cast – but the reality has surpassed even our highest expectations. Slim couldn’t be happier with this line up for its first ever production.”

The film is executive produced by Simon Crawford Collins, Paula Milne and Alan Judd for Slim Film + Television and Lucy Richer for the BBC. Director is Pete Travis (Dredd, Endgame, Omagh) and producer is Rob Bullock (Suspicions Of Mr Whicher, Case Sensitive). Rebecca Ferguson (Spooks) will be script executive.

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